Comparing the effects of an introduced and native species of bryozoan

An experiment was conducted to compare the effects of the introduced bryozoan, Bugula neritina, and the native bryozoan, Bugula dentata, on sessile invertebrate assemblages. Individuals of both species were collected from Workshops Jetty and Altona Pier prior to the experiment and transported back to the laboratory. Two colonies of either B. neritina or B. dentata were attached to each plate using sponges that expanded when wet. The plates were then transported to Workshops Jetty and attached to plates and left for 12 days. At the conclusion of the experiment plates were collected and abundances of species on the plates were counted and identified.

本实验旨在对比引入种苔藓虫（bryozoan）总合草苔虫（Bugula neritina）与本土苔藓虫齿状草苔虫（Bugula dentata）对固着无脊椎动物群落（sessile invertebrate assemblages）的影响。实验开始前，研究人员从沃克斯霍普栈桥（Workshops Jetty）与奥尔顿码头（Altona Pier）采集这两个物种的个体，并运回实验室。使用遇水膨胀的海绵，将两群体总合草苔虫或齿状草苔虫附着于每个实验平板上。随后将这些实验平板运至沃克斯霍普栈桥，附着于栈桥的固定平板上并放置12天。实验结束后，回收所有实验平板，对平板上的物种丰度进行计数并完成物种鉴定。